I suppose they are explosives because they write somewhere that they only have one electric valve for controlling the LOX flow and everything else is pyrotechnics. The rocket is actualy made of several modules. The engine and fuel module, the LOX module, 2 parachute modules and a spaceship module. All modules is bolted together and separation is of course between the two parachute modules.

As for costs, the price of building the new launch catamaran have been approx. 15.000 euro. The cost of fuel/lox for one shot is 4.000 euro so Ben is probably right when he guesses that they have to launch sooner rather than later. Another issue is that all equipment and money CS have, has to be donated by somebody. This generates the need for quick launch to remove the eventual rumors of wapoware. Finally there are lots of flight systems, parachutes, electronics that are simply too expensive to test in any other way

This weekend they have tested the launchpad-catamaran named 'sputnik' in the seas around Copenhagen and report that the ship behaves perfectly. That the vessel was conceived in marts and is sailing in august also proves something about their dedication.

I think that it is their other submarine Kraka not the UC3 that is used for transportation. UC3 is used for pilotboat because they have it already so they can keep the costs down. UC3 is acturly the third submarine Peter Madsen have designed and build. Before he started with submarines he made rockets and the interrest was rekindled when he was hired to make a safe rocketengine for a danish television program.

Latest update from the testsite is that they have arrived at Nexø harbor and are now waiting for calm weather. They expect that conditions for a test will be good this saturday.

The test this weekend has stopped due to a faulty LOX valve. The team is not sure when the next test will occur. The valve had not been tested before because of the theft of the previous LOX chamber in June. The rocket is now beeing transported back to Nexø harbor.

I guess it may in worst case be necessary to dismantle the rocket to change the valve. The salty environment cant be good for a valve without any grease but i don't know if corrosion is the problem.

News from CS. While they are waiting for next years launch they are experimenting with their engine. After several succesfull tests in the smaller version engine time has come to further exploration. They are now building aluminium tanks to reduce weight and are experimenting with liquid propellant engines.

This year's work on CS is focused on launching the Tycho Brae spaceship in June. To accieve this goal all launch systems is revised and if nessesary improved. The launch platform will get engises to sail under its own power an an independent powersource to power the electric systems used for the launch.

Here is links for the design notebooks by Kristian V Bentson on the construction of the spaceship.